Young adults are at highest risk of mental health problems at a time in the life-course when they are least insured against it. As a result, this group needs more care while being most vulnerable to experiencing interruptions in service. Continuity of care and cultural competence are two important aspects of mental health services for young adults. This study examines regional organizations that provide help for young adults (ages 16-25) who are coping with mental health problems. We examine attributes of these agencies and the degree to which they are interconnected through coordination and referral patterns. We find both continuity of care and cultural competence are valued by providers in mental health, education, substance abuse, child welfare, and juvenile justice agencies. We examine the correlates of cultural competence and the organizational factors associated with continuity of care. We describe the variety of types of services provided to this population in each sector of care. We identify the practices and the inter-organizational bridges that promote continuity of care for persons with mental disorders. We also establish a peer-rating method to compliment our social network analysis. We examine the hypotheses that continuity of care and cultural competence are related to peer-ratings of organizational performance.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Articulate the scope of mental health services available to young adults 2. Understand methods which describe continuity of care and cultural competence for organizations 3. Specify and evaluate relationships between organizational attributes and organizational performance
Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Cultural Competency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.